
SABBATH-SCHOOL LESSON QUARTERLY
37
They were so busy with anticipation as to their own future place
of authority in the hew administration of affairs, that they had
no desire for the unwelcome truth Jesus began to unfold to them
regarding His sufferings and death.
2.
"Peter saw in the collector's question an insinuation touch-
ing Christ's loyalty to the temple. Zealous for his Master's honor,
he hastily answered, without consulting Him, that Jesus would
pay the tribute. But Peter only partially comprehended the pur-
pose of his questioner. There were some classes who were held
to be exempt from the payment of the tribute. . . . In the days
of Christ the priests and Levites were still regarded as especially
devoted to the temple, snit were not required to make the annual
contribution for its support. Prophets also were exempted from
this payment. In requiring the tribute for Jesus, the rabbis were
setting aside His claim as a prophet or teacher, and were dealing
with Him as with any commonplace person. A refusal on His
part to pay the' tribute would be represented as disloyalty to the
temple; while, on the other hand, the payment of it would be
taken as justifying their rejection of Him as a prophet. Only
a little before, Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God;
but he now missed an opportunity of setting forth the character
of his Master. By his answer to the collector, that Jesus would pay
the tribute, he had virtually sanctioned the false conception of
Him to which the priests and rulers were trying to give currency."
—"Desire of Ages," page 433.
This tribute money should not be confounded with the Roman
taxes. It was levied by the Jewish rulers upon their own people
for the support of the temple and its service. For instruction to
Christians regarding the support of civil powers, see Rom. 13:1-6.
3.
"If Jesus had paid the tribute without a protest
;
He would
virtually have acknowledged the justice of the claim, and
-
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thus have denied His divinity. But. while He saw good to meet
the demand, He denied the claim upon which it was based. In
providing for the payment of the tribute He gave evidence of His
divine character. It was made manifest that He was one with
God, and therefore was not under tribute as a mere subject of the
kingdom."—"Desire
of Ages," page 434.
•
4. Self-seeking, born of selfishness, is sure to cause offense.,
Christ's example condemns this spirit in all His followers. "In
honor preferring one onother," is the standard for the Christian
believer. "Lucifer had said, 'I will be like the Most High;'
and the desire for self-exaltation bad brought strife into the
heavenly courts, and had banished a multitude of the hosts of
God. Had Lueifer really desired to be like the Most High, he
would never have deserted his appointed place in heaven; for the
Spirit of the Most High is manifested in unselfish ministry. Lu-